Now at every step, you can find yoga and tantra studios, lectures, master classes, workshops, festivals, video lessons, “enlightened” orgasmic centrists, and brochures a la “discover the goddess in yourself in 7 days.” But if you do not want to become a victim of third-rate information, and walk the streets squeezing intimate muscles and visualizing a fiery snake, with rays emanating from it, you should dig deeper, much deeper. What is tantra, we will try to explain, and then she herself. Let’s try, because the author of the article is not an adherent of tantra, but at least you can count on a responsible approach to finding and presenting information, and not be afraid that your email box will turn into junk for tantra raw materials.
Interest in tantric practices in Ukraine
Personally, I learned about tantra in 2005, the source of sacred knowledge still evokes notes of reverence in me. It was Stifler, one of the main characters in American Pie.
He tried to get into the teachings by putting on Indian rags and drooling on the lawn. It was charming, but when we see something like this in ordinary life, it causes sadness and existential questions. Is it all right? Thus my interest was born.
Tantra is of general interest, at least because any thinking person is interested in knowing the meaning of a word that he does not understand.
If at least some awareness is based on the basis that this is an ancient multifaceted teaching that can be used today, the interest becomes even more significant. Not to mention the fact that the basis of all existence is sexuality, which is mainly of interest to all people without exception (to say the least, but the article is not about Freud’s views).
But it should be borne in mind that the ancient esoteric systems are always very deep and are based on the philosophy of a particular people. Therefore, it cannot be mastered in an intensive course – a course of three months with cucumber cocktails and promenades in yoga pants.
Therefore, if you are seriously fascinated by the idea of studying tantra, you have a huge layer of preparatory work ahead of you.
What is tantra
Initially, the Tantras are mystical treatises that contain a comprehensive range of practical techniques that help increase sexual awareness and achieve transcendental experience. They study the latent potency of sexual intercourse as the central process of the universe.
Tantra is a philosophy and science, an art and a way of life involving the conscious and creative use of sexual energies. Nick Douglas “Secrets of Oriental Sex”
But before you start working with sexual awareness, it is logical to work with your consciousness first, isn’t it? It is generally worth delving into the vast discourse of works on psychology and various spiritual practices that are engaged in the study and control of consciousness.
There is no need to talk about the transcendental experience. After all, if you mechanically live 70% of your life without being “in yourself”, then transcendental practices can generally knock you out in the literal sense of the word, and then you won’t even find a window to seep back in. Therefore, as in any serious matter, haste can be fatal.
Origin of Tantra
Directly tantric treatises are the property of Indian culture, but similar teachings took place in China, Japan, Nepal, and Tibet. It’s just that the phenomena had other names and interpretations, which rather differed in the worldview of different peoples, but not in their essence.
The practices that made it possible to achieve sexual ecstasy and prolong it are most thoroughly studied in the Taoist tradition of China, which is built on the feminine principle of “acceptance”.
Tantric and Taoist teachings developed at the same time and fed each other, explaining the essence of the same view of sexuality, in their own way, with their own gods and goddesses, terms, and shades of practice. Philosophy came to Tibet from both countries, where it was improved and enriched.
who practiced tantra
In the East, there was a different attitude towards sex than in the West, which was hopelessly lagging behind due to religious restrictions. When India became an English colony, the influence of the West on the developed sexual tradition became vividly appreciated. In India, sex was not a sin and the prerogative of married couples, the attitude towards it was subtle and sacred. It was studied as a science, it was admired as an art, and only the elite was initiated into it.
Emperors and kings have always lived by one standard of sexuality, while others were imposed on their subordinates. In the old days, sexual secrets were the privilege of rulers and initiates who wanted to wield power. Strength and power were achieved through sexual practices that increased the vitality and vitality of the practitioner. The energy released through these practices was consciously directed towards increasing integrity, mental clarity and wisdom. Nick Douglas “Secrets of Oriental Sex”
So, we see that even in those days, tantra was not in the public domain, only a narrow circle of people who really could practice it was initiated into it. After all, any esoteric system involves practice, and mere mortals would have neither the time nor the opportunity. It is also worth noting that tantra was practiced with a clear goal in mind, and that goal was not purely pleasure. People wanted to achieve unity, and not only with a partner, but with the Universe.
It is important to understand that tantra should not be studied if you want to return your husband, marry a millionaire or lose weight without Larisa Dolina’s diet. This system is suitable for those who want to explore themselves, know their partner, and achieve a state of true unity, but this is a long process that involves changing the whole way of life, by changing their attitude towards it, and titanic work.
The triad of tantric principles of the universe
People who want to start studying/practicing tantra should delve into the three fundamental principles of the universe (yes, it’s not like reading a newspaper in the subway) through knowing yourself and your partner, and constantly working on your mind and body, because according to tantra, the body is yours a temple, taking care of which, you fulfill the service of the divine in yourself.
The three divine principles of the universe are birth, life, and death, which exist exclusively through the combination of male and female principles.
In tantric cosmology, these forces are presented as three aspects of the Divine Unity. Separately, they are known as Brahma and his wife Saraswati – the Creator, Shiva and Kali – the Destroyer, Vishnu and Lakshmi – the Protector. Each of these aspects is inextricably linked to the corresponding feminine energy (Shakti). Nick Douglas “Secrets of Oriental Sex”
To master these principles, it is necessary to rely on the techniques presented in the teaching. This is hatha yoga, and various breathing practices, appropriate nutrition, visualization, meditation, and even special rites of ablutions, in addition, to constantly comprehending all these manipulations and much more. Therefore, the study of tantra is, yes, a long spiritual process, a path.
If you have read to the end, most likely, your interest is strong. Therefore, you can safely purchase the aforementioned publication, enroll in a proven yoga school and rebuild your diet, but in no case do you need to rummage through the Internet in search of new spicy positions while your boyfriend opens wine, tantra is not about that.
